Review Note
Last Update: 02/18/2024 05:30 AM
Current Deck: Part 2::6. High Yield Questions::Clinonc
PublishedCurrently Published Content
Front
In general, what are the components of a comprehensive
geriatric assessment? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using such a
tool.
(4 marks)
Back
Important components
- Medical history: detailed review of the patient's medical history, including chronic conditions, past surgeries, medications, allergies, and immunizations.
- Physical examination: thorough evaluation of physical health, including vital signs, neurological assessment, mobility, strength, balance, sensory function, and evaluation of chronic conditions.
- Medication review: comprehensive review of medications to assess appropriateness, potential interactions, adherence, and the risk of adverse effects.
- Functional assessment: evaluation of activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), assessing the patient's ability to perform tasks like bathing, dressing, toileting, managing finances, and meal preparation.
- Cognitive assessment: screening for cognitive impairment using tools like the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), or other validated tests to assess memory, attention, and executive function.
- Nutritional assessment: evaluation of nutritional status, including weight changes, dietary habits, appetite, risk of malnutrition, and potential barriers to nutrition.
- Psychosocial assessment: assessment of psychological well-being, mood, social support systems, depression, anxiety, coping mechanisms, and quality of life.
- Sensory assessment: evaluation of sensory function, including vision and hearing, to address potential impairments affecting daily activities and quality of life.
- Advance care planning: discussion about advance directives, end-of-life care preferences, and goals of care to ensure alignment with the patient's wishes.
- Environmental assessment: evaluation of the patient's living environment, safety, accessibility, and potential hazards that might affect their well-being.
- Disadvantages:
- May be time consuming and not feasible for all patients
- Consider abbreviated tools eg PGA, G8, VES-13, clinical fralty score (CFS)
- Possible benefits:
- Predicting complications and S/Es from treatment
- Predicting functional decline during treatment
- Estimating survival
- Assisting in cancer treatment decisions
- Avoiding age bias in terms of de-escalating treatment.
- Detecting problems not found by routine history and physical examination
- Identification and treatment of new problems during follow up and care
- Improving mental health and wellbeing
- Better pain control
Further information, not for memorising (no card)
Exam
Current Tags:
Pending Suggestions
No pending suggestions for this note.